Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am not much of a photographer. I believe this 2006 male to be a pastel harlequin. The entire clutch, both pastels and normals had varying degrees of the dorsal striping with the enclosed circles in at and they had the nice fading flames coming up the sides. Dad is a very nice Bell pastel I have bred for years and never had antyhing like this. Mom is an animal I raised from an African hatched baby that I felt may be a harlequin. I am raising this male to breed back to his mother next season. This is the best example. His color is actually much more vibrant in person, or I'm sure with somebody that is better with a camera. Thanks for your input. Evan

Definately has an odd look, a keeper for sure! Snap some additional pics, lousy or not! I like it.

Dave

It definantly appears to be a pastel combo. Do you have any photos of the female you'd like to share. Did any of the normal siblings exhibit the female's appearance? Great job!

Horridus

Nice looking Pastel.
I can definitely see some Harlequin influence in the way that some of the side pattern 'melts' down from the dorsal stripe.

Snake Evolutions produced a Pastel Harlequin awhile back using their line of genetic Harlequins. Click the link below and scroll down a bit to see photos.

Probably due to the overall variance in Balls given the name 'Harlequin', but yours and theirs have two somewhat different looks.

Yours seems to show a fair amount of the side pattern connecting to the dorsal stripe, while theirs shows alot of the 'floating' side pattern with alot of dorsal striping that DOESN'T connect to the side pattern.

DISCLAIMER: Just to clarify the last paragraph, I'm NOT saying that your or theirs isn't a Pastel Harlequin, I'm just eluding to the overall variety in the Harlequin morph. When I think Harlequin Ball, I think of two things: 'melted' dorsal stripe and 'floating' side pattern. (Just wanted to make it known I'm not poopooing on anyone's project. )

Congrats again.
PLEASE post pics as he grows up....Thanks.

BB
Pastel Harlequin

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"Have you hugged your drummer today?" --- Me

Evan, That is a sweet pastel Harly!! Nice!!
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http://www.jasballpythons.com./

Could use some better pics... some of the belly, and of the mom and entire clutch.
I like the pattern so far.
I too hope to prove out some interesting pastels I produced in the last few years....
You never know until you line breed them.
We shall see.
Evan,
idealreptiles.com

Thanks guys, I really appreciate all of your input. I guess I will have more data for you either way when I do breed the son back to his mother.

As for this guy, his belly is not different from other pastels. The notable points in him, siblings and mom, are the variable striping with the enclosed circles in it, the bright flames up the sides, the overall brightness and quality of color and some odd banding. He is just over 500 grams now and his color gets brighter as he gets bigger.

I have no idea if he is a harlequin or not, and I still see much disagreement on what exactly a harlequin is defined as or by, but I do think I have enough info to think he is likely genetic and will try to figure it out as I go. Pastels are so variable and you do get so many odd ones when you produce many of them that it gets hard to decide if you really want to raise a male pastel but this one I had to keep. Evan

But I have hold back males from several females I hope to prove out some day... if that ever happens.
lol
Seriously, four are male pastels from four really cool females I hope to prove out as something interesting...
we shall see.

I meant no disrespect. What I did mean was that when you are starting to raise double homozygous combo stuff or dominant het somethings and maybe double het or triple het stuff or double or triple dominant stuff het for something, you know the direction this is all going, it is hard to just keep and raise male pastels because of how low their market value is and how few potential breeding are better off with a pastel male x ??? then with a hypo pastel x ??? or a bumble bee x ???. That is all I meant. Evan